Filled with color, music and energy, the Bill Mutimer Summer Theatre Series’ “Hairspray” joyfully explodes off the stage. This fun, exuberant musical ends the series’ summer season on a definite high note with great performances, high energy dancing and memorable singing.

Cerebral and funny, Tom Stoppard’s existential comedy “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” takes two minor characters from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and puts them on a stage, mostly alone, to ponder whether they control their own existence or are simply pawns in something bigger and beyond their control. Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s production is both entertaining and profound.

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s stark production of “Hamlet” is dark, moody and fascinating.
Shakespeare‘s epic tragedy, which is marked by outstanding performances and confident direction, continues through Aug. 3 on the Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, in Center Valley.

Pines Dinner Theatre delivers an energetic, fun and tuneful production of the rocking hit musical “Footloose.”
More than a dozen performers fill the Pines’ stage with rousing music and dancing in the musical that features several popular hit songs, as well as new songs.
“Footloose” is playing through Aug. 16, at the Pines’ new location in Cedar Point at 315 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard, Allentown.